jsonl-db 📚

Simple, lightweight database alternative using JSON files

Stop over-engineering your projects! jsonl-db gives you a database-like experience using simple JSON files. Perfect for prototypes, small projects, or when you just need to get things done quickly without the complexity of traditional databases.

Why jsonl-db? 🤔

• 🚀 Get started in seconds - No setup, no configuration, no complex schemas
• 📁 Uses familiar JSON files - Your data stays in human-readable format
• ⚡ Zero dependencies - Lightweight and fast
• 🔄 Full CRUD operations - Add, read, update, delete with simple methods
• 🔍 Powerful querying - Search and filter your data easily
• 💡 Perfect for - Prototypes, small apps, data processing, testing, learning

What is JSONL? 📖

JSONL (JSON Lines) is a simple format where each line contains a valid JSON object. Think of it as a database table where each row is a JSON object on its own line.

Example:

{"id": 1, "name": "Alice", "age": 25}
{"id": 2, "name": "Bob", "age": 30}
{"id": 3, "name": "Charlie", "age": 28}

Benefits:

• ✅ Easy to read and debug
• ✅ Simple to append new records
• ✅ No complex parsing needed
• ✅ Works with standard text tools
• ✅ Human-editable

Quick Start 🚀

Installation

npm install jsonl-db

Basic Usage

import { jsonlDir } from "jsonl-db";

// Create a database directory
const db = jsonlDir("./data");

// Create a users collection
const users = db.file("users");

// Add a user
await users.add({ name: "John", age: 27, email: "[email protected]" });

// Find a user
const john = await users.findOne(user => user.name === "John");

// Update a user
const updatedUsers = await users.update(
  user => user.name === "John",
  user => ({ ...user, age: 28 })
);

// Delete a user
const remainingUsers = await users.delete(user => user.name === "John");

Core Features ✨

Data Operations

• ➕ Add - Single records or batches
• 📖 Read - Find first match or all matches
• 🔄 Update - By condition with custom logic
• ❌ Delete - Specific records with conditions

Querying

• 🔍 Find - First match or all matches
• 📊 Count - Total records in collection
• ⚡ Fast Access - Efficient batch processing
• 🎯 Flexible - Custom conditions and filters

File Management

• 📁 Auto-create - Files created automatically
• 🗂️ Organized - Directory-based structure
• 💾 Persistent - Data survives restarts

Real-World Examples 🌟

User Management

const db = jsonlDir("./data");
const users = db.file("users");

// Add multiple users
await users.add([
  { id: 1, name: "Alice", role: "admin" },
  { id: 2, name: "Bob", role: "user" },
  { id: 3, name: "Charlie", role: "user" }
]);

// Find all admins
const admins = await users.find(user => user.role === "admin");

// Count total users
const userCount = await users.count();

Logging System

const db = jsonlDir("./logs");
const appLogs = db.file("app");

// Add log entry
await appLogs.add({
  timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
  level: "info",
  message: "User logged in",
  userId: 123
});

// Get recent logs
const recentLogs = await appLogs.find(log => 
  new Date(log.timestamp) > new Date(Date.now() - 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000)
);

Configuration Store

const db = jsonlDir("./config");
const settings = db.file("app-settings");

// Store settings
await settings.add({ key: "theme", value: "dark" });
await settings.add({ key: "language", value: "en" });

// Get setting
const theme = await settings.findOne(setting => setting.key === "theme");

Multi-Entity Application

const db = jsonlDir("./app-data");

// Different collections for different entities
const users = db.file("users");
const products = db.file("products");
const orders = db.file("orders");

// Work with users
await users.add({ name: "John", email: "[email protected]" });

// Work with products
await products.add({ name: "Laptop", price: 999.99 });

// Work with orders
await orders.add({ userId: 1, productId: 1, quantity: 2 });

When to Use jsonl-db 🎯

Perfect for:

• 🚀 Prototypes - Get your idea working fast
• 📱 Small apps - Personal projects, simple tools
• 🧪 Testing - Mock data, test scenarios
• 📊 Data processing - ETL jobs, data analysis
• 🎓 Learning - Understand database concepts
• 🔧 Configuration - App settings, user preferences

Consider alternatives when:

• 📈 Large datasets - Millions of records
• 👥 Multiple users - Concurrent access needed
• 🔒 Complex security - Advanced permissions required
• 🚀 High performance - Sub-millisecond queries needed

Requirements ⚙️

• Node.js v22 or higher

Multiple formats available for different environments:

• ESM (.js) - Modern ES modules
• CommonJS (.cjs) - Traditional Node.js
• TypeScript (.d.ts) - Full type support

API Reference 📚

Core API

Creating a Database

import { jsonlDir } from "jsonl-db";

// Create a database in a directory
const db = jsonlDir("./data");

// Create collections (files) for different entities
const users = db.file("users");
const products = db.file("products");

Adding Data

// Single record
await users.add({ name: "John", age: 27 });

// Multiple records
await users.add([
  { name: "John", age: 27 },
  { name: "Jane", age: 31 }
]);

Reading Data

// Find first match
const user = await users.findOne(user => user.name === "John");

// Find all matches
const adults = await users.find(user => user.age >= 18);

// Count total records
const total = await users.count();

Updating Data

// Update with custom logic
const updatedUsers = await users.update(
  user => user.age > 30,
  user => ({ ...user, isSenior: true })
);

Deleting Data

// Delete with condition
const remainingUsers = await users.delete(user => user.age > 100);

Contributing 🤝

We love contributions! Here's how to help:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b my-feature
3. Make your changes and add tests
4. Test everything: npm test
5. Commit with clear messages
6. Push and submit a pull request

License 📝

MIT License - feel free to use in any project!

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Ready to simplify your data storage? Start with jsonl-db and focus on building features, not database complexity! 🚀